Friday, February 8, 2013

Social Security Need Bold New Leradership

The press and public have understandably focused in recent weeks on
high-profile appointments such as the secretaries of state, defense and
treasury as President Barack Obama
builds his second-term team. They also should pay close attention to
the search for a man or woman to serve as commissioner of the Social
Security Administration — a post central to the national welfare and,
with a six-year term, an appointment that will continue into the next
presidency.
The Social Security Administration, headquartered just outside
Baltimore in Woodlawn, touches the lives and pocketbooks of nearly every
American. With this cornerstone of our social compact under demographic
pressure and political threat, the president's choice for a successor
is vitally important.
Washington is a land of partisan extremes these days, a place where
compromise is an orphan and dealmakers are a rare sight. Inevitably,
Social Security will again be a political football as Congress
attempts to manage America's fiscal challenges. As a veteran of more
than a few policy debates and political fights — some of which didn't
end the way I'd have liked — I want suggest what I think are key job
requirements for the new commissioner:
•The nominee should bring
substantial managerial experience. The Social Security Administration
has roughly 62,000 employees. The agency processes payments of $4.5
billion to 6 million recipients every month. It needs a strong CEO
capable of running a large and complex organization that does
high-stakes work.
•The nominee should bring considerable policy expertise. For more
than 20 years, actuaries have battled, often very publicly, over the
viability of Social Security's funding mechanism. It would be profoundly
foolish today to ignore the demographic challenges the retirement of
baby boomers will pose to the system. The remedy should not be a
Band-Aid, but structural reform for the long haul.
The next commissioner, unlike some predecessors, should bring to the
job a detailed historical knowledge of Social Security — of decisions
that have made the system stronger and of others that have weakened it.
•Diplomatic skills will be essential. The commissioner of Social
Security will need to deal not only with criticism from his or her
natural political opponents but also with substantial pressure from
natural allies. A commissioner perceived as a zealot or out of touch
with the private sector will have a hard time advancing arguments for a
new structure of benefits or changes to Social Security's long term
funding.
•The commissioner of Social Security needs considerable fortitude.
One of the most important aspects of the job is appearing before
Congress (approximately four times a year, though the frequency can
shift). For at least the next two years, that will mean confronting a
Republican-controlled Congress whose leadership lives in fear of tea
partiers whose rhetoric would suggest they'd like to see Social Security
dismantled altogether. The next commissioner of Social Security will
need the strength of will and command of facts necessary to stand
toe-to-toe with well-prepared congressional foes.
•Finally, the next commissioner will have to be someone passionately
dedicated to the principles that underlie the Social Security system and
eloquent in articulating those principles.
The vast majority of Americans want a fair system that offers dignity
to the elderly while preserving economic opportunity for current and
future workers. They deserve a commissioner who can ensure Social
Security operates properly, provide a vision for its long-term future
and lead the fight to preserve it from political critics or demographic
threats. (By Bill Bradley)

Michael Astrue is still Commissioner of Social Security on 8 February. His term ran out on January 19 but the Social Security Act says
he can stay in his job until a successor is confirmed. He hasn’t
resigned so he’s still Commissioner. The same is true for Deputy
Commissioner Carolyn Colvin. The rumor had been that Astrue did not
intend to stay on after his term ended. So far, he’s proving that rumor
wrong. Astrue does seem to be clearing items off his desk. Take a look
at what he just sent over
to the Office of Management and Budget. I wonder if he’s planning to
send over his version of new mental impairment listings before leaving.
The SSA has more than 11,000 employees at its headquarters in
Woodlawn, Maryland. It provides benefits to retirees, disabled Americans
and the children of deceased workers. The SSA paid more than
$778,000,000,000 (that is billion) in benefits to 56 million people. The
SSA’s budget rivals that of the Department Of Defense.Carolyn Colvin is Astrue’s Deputy, but she is not considered
to be a serious contender to replace him. She was confirmed by the
Senate two years ago. Her term also expires January 19, 2013. She is a
former secretary of the state Department of Human Resources and served
as special assistant to Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation.One possibility that comes to mind is thatthere will never be an
announcement of an Obama nominee for Commissioner of Social Security.
Astrue will leave the job in the near future and Carolyn Colvin will
become the Acting Commissioner for the rest of Obama’s term as
President. Colvin as Acting Commissioner, unlike Astrue and unlike a
nominated and confirmed Commissioner of Social Security, would be
serving at the President’s will. If Colvin displeased the President, she
could be removed from the job by Obama nominating and the Senate
confirming a Commissioner. I think it is more than possible thatthe President has had his fill of an independent Social Security Commissioner and wants someone who is truly on his team. I have no inside information. This is just my speculation. Of course, this can’t happen if Astrue keeps hanging around.

About Me

I am a thoroughly civilized, humane, cosmopolitan, polished, restrained, enjoyable, entertaining Info-maniac. I am a staunch exponent of individual dignity, freedom, equal access to legal services, and equal protection of the law. Here I hope to demonstrate my emotional restraint, humbleness of sentiment, psychological subtlety, lucid style, and simple language, without evading political reality or eternal truth. Daily I am excited that I have the right to create the beginning of a new self and to challenge old habits and attitudes I no longer choose to accept. I choose to relax in the present with my direction firmly in mind. I have an enormous capacity for creative and clever ideas and thoughts. It is phenomenal what I can do. I am capable of so much learning and absorbing a lot of information. My potential is a source of pleasant surprise for me.
Each day, I increase in knowledge, skills, strength, faith, and abilities.With each adventure, the boundary hemming in my potential expands easily to accomodate my growth and achievements.